Utica, NY – The Utica College women's tennis team returns home on Friday afternoon when the Pioneers host Hartwick College for an Empire 8 Conference matchup at 4 p.m. The contest is a part of the College's Homecoming festivities. 

Off to a Hot Start: The Pioneers are currently 3-3 overall and are off to their best start in over 10 years… Utica is 2-1 at home this season and earned a thrilling 5-4 victory over Elmira, a match that started outside on the tennis courts but finished at the indoor courts due to darkness … The Pioneers also picked up wins over SUNY Delhi and Wells College.

Empire 8 Player of the Week: Junior Lulu Zhang (Wenzhou, China /Newcomers) was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Monday … Zhang went 2-0 at fifth singles and 1-1 at third doubles last week … She teamed up with Gabriella Morreale (Utica, NY/T.R Proctor) and defeated Wells 8-0 in third doubles on Sunday … She also earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at fifth singles as the Pioneers topped Wells … She tallied the Pioneers lone point at fifth singles against Nazareth College on Saturday … She has won three straight matches at fifth singles and is now 4-2 on the year and 3-3 at third doubles.

First Singles: Utica's Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) is currently 2-4 at first singles for the Pioneers and she also has a 2-2 record in doubles, teaming up with both Monica Johnson (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin ).

Doubles Specialist: Senior Gabriella Morreale (Utica, NY/T.R Proctor) has teamed up with Lulu Zhang (Wenzhou, China /Newcomers) and currently holds a 3-3 record at third doubles. 

Fitzpatrick Cleaning Up: Senior Anastasia Fitzpatrick (Parksville, NY/Liberty) has a 3-3 record at fourth singles, including the match clinching win over Elmira College … Fitzpatrick and Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) have teamed up and are currently 3-2 at second doubles … Gribanoff also has a 2-4 record at second singles this season.

Down the Stretch: The Pioneers will hit the road on Saturday when they travel to Stevens Institute of Technology to take on the Ducks in Empire 8 Conference play at 1 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J. … UC has seven matches left in regular season play, including four conference contests.